Report: Club are now ready to make £15m bid to sign 26-year-old Tottenham player, Conte’s said he can leave

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La Liga outfit Villarreal are ready to pay £15m for the permanent signing of Giovani Lo Celso from Tottenham, according to reports from Spain.

Lo Celso spent the second half of the season on loan with the Spanish club, helping them reach the semi-finals of the Champions League.

It was reported earlier this month that Antonio Conte has already told the 26-year-old he is not part of his plans for next season.

El Periodico Mediterraneo claim that Unai Emery is willing to pay 18 million euros (£15.4 million) to bring the midfielder to the club permanently.

Villarreal ready to pay £15m for Lo Celso

Their report says: “As it stands, there is no agreement with the South American or with Tottenham Hotspur. The latter intend to ‘get rid of him’ as the player is not included in Antonio Conte’s plans.

“Villarreal are ready to offer close to €18m, plus a percent on the future sale. It will not be a ‘simple operation’.

“In addition to this, Real Betis have ‘shown interest’ in Lo Celso. Due to their economic situation, they could sign him on a loan deal, an option that Spurs ‘do not contemplate’.

“Villarreal, on the other hand, could approach €18m for their manager’s ‘number one target’. Emery’s side will have to get approval from Lo Celso and then find an agreement with Spurs to carry out the deal this summer.“

It seems Lo Celso has no Spurs future and more than £15 million would represent a decent amount to add to Conte’s transfer budget.

It would be a loss on what Tottenham paid, but if the Argentine is surplus to requirements under Conte, then he needs to move on.

Spurs also need to be conscious that if they are selling him overseas, budgets are smaller in those leagues and that should inform their asking price and decision making process.